MAXIM MAX19790 Technical data

19-5165; Rev 0; 3/10

250MHz to 4000MHz Dual,

Analog Voltage Variable Attenuator

General Description

The MAX19790 dual, general-purpose analog voltage
variable attenuator (VVA) is designed to interface with
50I systems operating in the 250MHz to 4000MHz fre­quency range. Each attenuator includes a control circuit
that provides 22dB of attenuation range with a linear
control slope of 10dB/V.

Both attenuators share a common analog control and
can be cascaded together to yield 44dB of total dynamic
range, with a combined linear control slope of 20dB/V.

The IC is a monolithic device designed on one of Maxim’s
proprietary SiGe BiCMOS processes. The device oper­ates from a single +5.0V supply and is available in a com­pact, 36-pin thin QFN package (6mm x 6mm x 0.8mm)
with an exposed pad. Electrical performance is guaran­teed over the extended -40° to +85°C temperature range.

Features

S 250MHz to 4000MHz RF Frequency Range

S

Integrates Two Analog Attenuators in One

Monolithic Device

S

Flexible Attenuation-Control Ranges

22dB (per Attenuator)
44dB (Both Attenuators Cascaded)

S

2.4dB 1500MHz Insertion Loss (per Attenuator)

S

Linear dB/V Analog Control Response Curve

Simplifies Automatic Leveling Control and
Gain-Trim Algorithms

Excellent Attenuation Flatness Over Wide

S

Frequency Ranges and Attenuation Settings

S Low 7.3mA Supply Current

S

Single +5.0V Supply Voltage

MAX19790

Applications

Broadband System Applications, Including
Wireless Infrastructure Digital and Spread­Spectrum Communication Systems

WCDMA/LTE, TD-SCDMA/TD-LTE, WiMAX™,
cdma2000
Stations

VSAT/Satellite Modems

Microwave Terrestrial Links

Lineup Gain Trim

Temperature Compensation Circuits

Automatic Level Control (ALC)

Transmitter Gain Control

Receiver Gain Control

General Test Equipment

®

, GSM/EDGE, and MMDS Base

Ordering Information

PART TEMP RANGE PIN-PACKAGE

MAX19790ETX+

MAX19790ETX+T
+Denotes a lead(Pb)-free/RoHS-compliant package.
*EP = Exposed pad.

T = Tape and reel.

-40NC to +85NC

-40NC to +85NC

36 Thin QFN-EP*
36 Thin QFN-EP*

WiMAX is a trademark of WiMAX Forum.

cdma2000 is a registered trademark of Telecommunications
Industry Association.

_______________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products 1

For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim Direct at 1-888-629-4642,
or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.

250MHz to 4000MHz Dual,
Analog Voltage Variable Attenuator

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

VCC to GND ..........................................................-0.3V to +5.5V

CTRL to GND (with V

All Other Pins to GND .............................. -0.3V to (V

RF Input ......................................................................... +20dBm

Current into CTRL Pin (V

Maximum Junction Temperature .....................................+150°C

Operating Temperature Range .......................... -40°C to +85°C

Note 1: TC is the temperature on the exposed pad of the package. TA is the ambient temperature of the device and PCB.

MAX19790

Note 2: Based on junction temperature TJ = TC + (θJC x VCC x ICC). This formula can be used when the temperature of the exposed

pad is known while the device is soldered down to a PCB. See the Applications Information section for details. The junction
temperature must not exceed +150°C.

Note 3: Junction temperature T

known. The junction temperature must not exceed +150°C.

Note 4: Package thermal resistances were obtained using the method described in JEDEC specification JESD51-7, using a four-

layer board. For detailed information on package thermal considerations, refer to www.maxim-ic.com/thermal-tutorial.

Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to absolute
maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.

CAUTION! ESD SENSITIVE DEVICE

= +5.0V applied) ............ 0V to +4.75V

CC

grounded) .............................40mA

CC

= TA + (θJA x VCC x ICC). This formula can be used when the ambient temperature of the PCB is

J

+ 0.3V)

CC

Storage Temperature Range ........................….-65°C to +150°C

Continuous Power Dissipation (T
θ

(Notes 2, 4) ............................................................ +10°C/W

JC

θ

(Notes 3, 4) ............................................................ +35°C/W

JA

Lead Temperature (soldering, 10s) ................................+300°C

Soldering Temperature (reflow) ......................................+260°C

= +85°C) (Note 1) .......2.1W

C

DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(VCC = +4.75V to +5.25V, V

-40°C to +85°C, unless otherwise noted. Typical values are at V

PARAMETER SYMBOL CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS

SUPPLY

Supply Voltage V
Supply Current I

CONTROL INPUT

Control Voltage Range V
Control Input Resistance R

= +1.0V to +4.0V, no RF signals applied, all input and output ports terminated with 50I, TC =

CTRL

= +5.0V, V

CC

CC

CC

CTRL

CTRL

(Note 5) 1.0 4.0 V

RECOMMENDED AC OPERATING CONDITIONS

PARAMETER SYMBOL CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS

RF Frequency Range f

RF

(Note 6) 250 4000 MHz

= +1.0V, TC = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)

CTRL

4.75 5.0 5.25 V

7.3 9.5 mA

50

kI

2

250MHz to 4000MHz Dual,

Analog Voltage Variable Attenuator

AC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(MAX19790 Evaluation Kit, line and connector losses included, two attenuators in cascade, VCC = 4.75V to 5.25V, RF ports are
driven from 50I sources, input P
for T

= +25°C, VCC = +5.0V, input PRF = -10dBm, fRF = 1500MHz, V

C

PARAMETER SYMBOL CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS

Insertion Loss IL T

Loss Variation Over Temperature T
Input P

1dB

Input Second-Order Intercept
Point

Input Third-Order Intercept Point IIP3 f
Second Harmonic 2f
Third Harmonic 3f

Attenuation-Control Range A

Average Attenuation-Control
Slope

Maximum Attenuation-Control
Slope

Attenuation Flatness Over
125MHz Bandwidth (Note 8)

Switching Time From 15dB to 0dB attenuation (Note 9) 500 ns
Input Return Loss All gain settings 25 dB
Output Return Loss All gain settings 21 dB
Group Delay Input/output 50I lines deembedded 190 ps

Group-Delay Flatness Over
125MHz Bandwidth

Group-Delay Change vs.
Attenuation Control

Insertion Phase Change vs.
Attenuation Control

Note 5: Operating outside this range for extended periods may affect device reliability. Limit pin input current to 40mA when VCC

is not present (see Table 1 for R4 value).

Note 6: Operation outside this range is possible, but with degraded performance of some parameters. See the Typical Operating

Characteristics.

Note 7: f1 = 1500MHz, f2 = 1501MHz, -10dBm/tone at attenuator input.
Note 8: Guaranteed by design and characterization.
Note 9: Switching time is measured from 50% of the control signal to when the RF output settles to Q1dB.

= -10dBm, fRF = 950MHz to 2150MHz, V

RF

= +25NC

C

= -40NC to +85NC 0.6 dB

C

IP

1dB

f

+ f

IIP2

RF1

(Note 7)

RF1

IN

IN

One attenuator, V
to +4.0V, T

Two attenuators,

R

V

CTRL

to +4.0V,
T

= +25NC

C

V

CTRL

V

CTRL

Peak-to-peak for V
T

= +25NC

C

Peak-to-peak 10 ps

V

CTRL

V

CTRL

term, f

RF2

- f

RF2

= +1.0V

= +1.0V to +3.5V 20.0 dB/V

= +1.0V to +3.5V 30.4 dB/V

= +1.0V to +4.0V -175 ps

= +1.0V to +4.0V 82 Degrees

RF1

= 1MHz (Note 7) 36.3 dBm

CTRL

= +25NC

C

CTRL

= +1.0V, TC = -40°C to +85°C. Typical values are

CTRL

= +1.0V, unless otherwise noted.)

CTRL

950MHz to 1500MHz 4.4 6.3
950MHz to 2150MHz 4.4 7.0

23.1 dBm

- f

= 1MHz

RF2

= +1.0V

950MHz to 1500MHz 36 44.7

950MHz to 2150MHz 33 44.7

= +1.0V to +3.1V,

69.6 dBm

72 dBc
77 dBc

22

0.13 0.89 dB

dB

dB

MAX19790

3

250MHz to 4000MHz Dual,
Analog Voltage Variable Attenuator

Typical Operating Characteristics

(MAX19790 Evaluation Kit, two attenuators in cascade, VCC = +5.0V, PRF = -10dBm, TC = +25NC, V

= +1.0V, unless otherwise noted.)

CTRL

8.0

MAX19790

7.5

7.0

SUPPLY CURRENT (mA)

6.5

4.750 5.250

TC = +25°C

VCC (V)

INSERTION LOSS vs. RF FREQUENCY

12

10

SUPPLY CURRENT vs. V

8

6

TC = +85°C

4

INSERTION LOSS (dB)

2

0

0 4000

TC = +25°C

TC = -40°C

RF FREQUENCY (MHz)

TC = +85°C

TC = -40°C

CC

MAX19790 toc01

5.1255.0004.875

MAX19790 toc04

300020001000

INPUT MATCH vs. RF FREQUENCY

0

-10

TC = +85°C

TC = -40°C

-20

S11 (dB)

-30

-40
0 4000

RF FREQUENCY (MHz)

INPUT MATCH vs. V

0

4000MHz

-10

500MHz

-20

S11 (dB)

-30

2150MHz

-40
1 4

V

(V)

CTRL

MAX19790 toc02

TC = +25°C

300020001000

CTRL

MAX19790 toc05

250MHz

950MHz

32

OUTPUT MATCH vs. RF FREQUENCY

0

-10

TC = +85°C

TC = -40°C

-20

S22 (dB)

-30

-40
0 4000

RF FREQUENCY (MHz)

OUTPUT MATCH vs. V

0

-10

500MHz

-20

S22 (dB)

-30

2150MHz

-40
1 4

4000MHz

950MHz

V

CTRL

32

(V)

MAX19790 toc03

TC = +25°C

300020001000

CTRL

MAX19790 toc06

250MHz

0

-10

2150MHz

-20

-30

S21 (dB)

-40

-50

-60
1 4

250MHz, 500MHz, 950MHz

V

CTRL

4

ATTENUATION vs. V

(V)

32

CTRL

4000MHz

MAX19790 toc07

0

ATTENUATION vs. V

-10

-20

-30

S21 (dB)

TC = -40°C, +25°C, +85°C

-40

-50

-60
1 4

V

(V)

CTRL

32

CTRL

f

RF

= 950MHz

S21 PHASE CHANGE vs. V

200

REFERENCED TO INSERTION-LOSS STATE.
POSITIVE PHASE = ELECTRICALLY
SHORTER.

150

MAX19790 toc08

100

50

950MHz

S21 PHASE CHANGE (DEGREES)

0

500MHz

-50
1 4

4000MHz

250MHz

V

CTRL

CTRL

MAX19790 toc09

2150MHz

32

(V)